Our Blog

Gordon River Cruises has been crowned the Tour and Transport Operator of the Year at the 2021 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. 

We’re thrilled to announce that Gordon River Cruises has been named Tour & Transport Operator of the Year at the 2021 Tasmanian Tourism Awards!

We had some extra smiley faces on board with us this week from Strahan Primary School.  

Ranging from Kinder to Grade 4, 55 students bounded onto the Main Deck, ready for an excursion like no other!

After a long morning exploring the waters of Macquarie Harbour with us you're probably feeling a little worn out - and perhaps don't have the time or energy to tackle the longer Montezuma Falls or Kelly Basin walks. We've put together a list of 'afternoon fillers', a small list of activities that will keep you entertained between docking and dinner.
 

Our annual Christmas sale is back this year and will go ahead on the 3^rd of December at the Gordon River Cruises terminal on the Esplanade in Strahan.

Tasmania is home to some of Australia's most intriguing wildlife and spectacular wilderness scenery. At Gordon River Cruises, we are fortunate enough to cruise in the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area on a daily basis and share this place with guests from across the world. If you can't make it to the west coast, below are some of our favourite wilderness cruises showcasing the different regions of our beautiful island state.

We're really proud to have recently been awarded a 'Travellers' Choice' award by TripAdvisor. 

Spring has sprung, which means there's no better time to dust of your hiking boots, grab the camera and pack your bags, and venture to the west coast! No trip to the west coast is complete without cruising the mighty Gordon River and Macquarie Harbour with Gordon River Cruises. It’s a place of rich history, with stories to be told – from the Aboriginal tribes of 40,000 years ago, to the environmental protests of the late 20^th century. Here are a few reasons why Gordon River Cruises should be a part of your spring itinerary.

Just a short trip outside your comfort zone, at the last stop before the gates to hell lies the town of Strahan, on the shores of Macquarie Harbour. Our harbour is home to a number of small islands, one of which is the infamous ‘Sarah Island’. Known to Aboriginal people as ‘Langerrareroune’, but called ‘Sarah Island’ by the British who operated a penal colony on the site back in the early 1800s. The island is remote and isolated. The perfect location to house convicts to ensure their continuous captivity it would seem…

As we get back into the full swing of cruising on the Gordon River, we took the opportunity to sit and chat with one of our Skippers, to hear about what he sees as special about the west coast of Tassie, the Gordon River and the experience he and the Gordon River Cruises team delivers each day.

After a lengthy hiatus, we are excited to be back cruising the Gordon River and Macquarie Harbour from 10 July 2020. We sat down with General Manager, Geoff Eyers to talk about the break and some of the changes the team has put in place to deliver the same multi award-winning experience amidst Coronavirus safety regulations.

There’s generally a lot of interest from our guests, fans and the public, in our state-of-the-art cruise vessel, Spirit of the Wild. Given we all have some extra time on our hands at the moment, we thought we’d ask the General Manager of Gordon River Cruises for his take on what’s special about our vessel, why she noteworthy and how he came to understand the high-calibre technology she uses.

As 2019 comes to a close, we look back at a really great year for Gordon River Cruises. Here are a few highlights...

We were thrilled to recently host Samuel Johnson aboard Spirit of the Wild as part of his huge tour of Australia, raising money and awareness for cancer as part of 'Love Your Sister'.

We’re really proud to have progressed one of our own young stars through the ranks at Gordon River Cruises, to the point that she’s now driving our state-of-the-art vessel, Spirit of the Wild. Amanda Sansom has been with Gordon River Cruises for some years and her story is one of dedication and passion. This progression to driving Spirit of the Wild is a big deal and has taken a lot of dedicated, hard work. We took a few minutes to ask Amanda to share some of her experiences with us.

2018 was a huge year for Gordon River Cruises.

After the Hobart build and launch of Spirit of the Wild, a vessel unlike anything else operating commercially in the southern hemisphere, we commenced quiet cruising with electric motors on the Gordon River, creating an unparalleled experience never before available in this magical place.

Although Gordon River Cruises is best known for venturing into the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area to explore the Gordon River, we do play host to a number of events and functions closer to our home base of Strahan throughout the year.

We are excited to announce that Spear Green Design (SGD) – the designers of Spirit of the Wild – have been awarded Best Marine Interior Designers for 2018 by Baird Publications / Work Boat World. This award was in recognition of three of their major projects in 2018 – including the Gordon River Cruise vessel - Spirit of the Wild.

The new Gordon River Cruises vessel, Spirit of the Wild is now cruising in Tasmania's west and is offering our guests the opportunity to experience the Gordon River as they haven't before.

New Strahan terminal sets scene for upgraded cruise experience

The RACT has celebrated the official opening of the new cruise terminal in Strahan, which will set the scene for the new Gordon River Cruises vessel to come online in the middle of the year.

In a significant step forward in the build of our new Gordon River Cruises vessel, Spirit of the Wild was successfully launched onto the water by Richardson Devine Marine during the week of 19 March.

In early 2018 Gordon River Cruises will be launching a new vessel which will be the most environmentally sensitive vessel of its type in Australia. The new vessel will enhance the overall experience of the cruise and ensure it remains one of the best eco-tours in the country. And today we are excited to reveal an exciting world-first feature for the cruise – silent drive.

We are excited to announce that Gordon River Cruises has been chosen as a finalist in the Tasmanian Tourism Awards 2017. Completing an award submission was a long and involved process for the team so it’s great to see our hard work and dedication paying off.
 

When visiting Strahan, it is essential that visitors take a tour of Bonnet Island in order to appreciate the contrast between the area’s turbulent past and the cute little penguins which peacefully inhabit the island today. This twilight experience conducted by Gordon River Cruises is a highlight of any Tasmanian holiday.

Photography tips for cruising in Tasmania's World Heritage Area

The Gordon River on Tasmania’s west coast is a paradise for photographers and the Gordon River Cruise places you in some of the best locations to get that hero photograph. The combination of natural tannins from buttongrass plains give the Gordon River’s water the appearance of tea and ensure it has a remarkable reflective quality, making for mirror-like images.

It is an open secret that whilst the scenery on a Gordon River Cruise is spectacular, the refreshments made from local produce are equally as divine. Many guests are particularly impressed by the wines on offer and leave the cruise with a determination to explore Tasmania’s tipples in greater depth. Tasmania’s cool climate wines are often produced at artisan wineries and may not be available on the mainland. Fortunately, visitors who choose to drive further north from Strahan to Devonport have the opportunity to exercise their taste buds at some excellent cellar doors along the way.

When visitors think of Tasmania, penguins may not be the first images that come to mind. However, Tasmania is home to more than 110 000 breeding pairs of little penguins, the smallest of the species. These delightful creatures grow to about 30cm in height and 40cm in length. Being so small, they face quite a number of threats to their survival. Most of Tasmania’s little blue penguins are found in safe havens on uninhabited islands. The Bonnet Island Experience provides an eco-friendly way to enjoy little blue penguins in the wild.

No trip to Tasmania is complete without a Gordon River cruise. This incredible experience gives you the chance to see a pristine cool-climate rainforest which contains the iconic Huon Pine. Your trip also takes you through Macquarie Harbour which conjures up some of the most infamous tales from Tasmania’s convict past. Although the drive to Tasmania’s west coast is highly recommended, those who are time poor can still take part in this must-do adventure.

Whilst a Gordon River wilderness cruise gives you the opportunity to see unique plants and animals, it has a history that is almost as wild as its ancient forests. Convict labour, daring prison escapes, tragic shipwrecks and conservation protests are all part of this world famous river’s story. These historical tales are just as fascinating as the spectacular scenery.

Gordon River Cruises was recently announced as a finalist in the 2016 Tasmanian Tourism Awards in the 'Tour Operator & Transportation' category.  We're very proud to say that we went on to win a silver medal in the category - an extraordinary achievement for the team and something the business will build on until next year's awards.

The teams at Gordon River Cruises and Strahan Village could not be prouder of our very own Sam Graudins, for winning the 2016 Tasmanian Hospitality Association’s (THA) ‘Rising Star Award’.

I turn to the first question. The craft the subject of the claim was described on the front cover of the builder's specification as an ``18 metre catamaran tourist vessel''. More particularly, in the specification proper, it was provided that ``the vessel is to be capable of operating as a ferry or as a tourist vessel'' and that it was to be ``a twin-hulled (catamaran) high speed ferry constructed with welded steel hulls. A welded aluminium superstructure will be fitted containing passenger cabin, toilets, wheel-house etc. 

If you are planning a trip to Tasmania, you may be overwhelmed by the incredible range of experiences and sights on offer. After all, Tasmania has some of the most unique, spectacular and diverse wonders on earth. Fortunately, the Experience Oz list of “100 things to do in Tasmania before you die” will help you to narrow down choices. Our expert staff have cast their eyes over the list and here are their top picks.

Although Tasmania is a small island, many visitors find that they are overwhelmed by the number of attractions on offer. If you find that you don’t have time to drive to the stunning west coast, there is still a way for you to experience the unique heritage and wilderness of this area. From Hobart, you can enjoy an unforgettable day tour by air, sea and land to Sarah Island and the pristine rainforest of the Gordon River.

When looking for things to do in Strahan, look no further! A short 2-minute walk from Strahan Village Hotel & Cottages is the jetty where the Gordon River Cruise sets off.  As the sun rises over the harbour, it’s hard to imagine a more tranquil setting. The Gordon River Cruise captures everything that Tasmania has to offer: natural beauty, untouched environment, history and of course fresh local produce. 

A Gordon River cruise provides plenty of scenic photo opportunities. Stunning scenes of the picturesque bay, the magical wilderness and convict sites will ensure that you have numerous gasp-worthy images. However, many people find that their best photographs are those of the magnificent reflections on the Gordon River. With this in mind, make sure that you take a suitable camera or download appropriate apps to your phone.

For those who like to travel a little off the beaten track but still enjoy the creature comforts associated with fine hotels and restaurants, the small towns of Western Tasmania are ideal to visit. At the gateway to the World Heritage Wilderness Area, these towns capture the essence of Tasmania’s convict and mining heritage. The stunning scenery will further enhance your experience.

Tasmania is famous for its high-quality produce and environmental consciousness. One such practice which combines these two concepts is the internationally-acclaimed salmon aquaculture which occurs in the waters around Tasmania.

Tasmania’s UNESCO World Heritage Wilderness Area is recognised for its unique glacial formations, unspoilt temperate rainforests and extensive range of flora and fauna. This combination of features in a pristine environment cannot be found anywhere else. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area comprises some difficult terrain that can only be accessed by true adventurers. Fortunately, Tasmanian wilderness cruises allow everyone to appreciate the incredible beauty of this area.

Tasmania hosts a unique ecosystem with hundreds of plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else on earth. Tasmania's iconic plant is the Huon Pine which has developed from a plant family that existed more than 200 million years ago. The Huon Pines that can be seen in Tasmania today are some of the oldest living organisms on earth. High up on Mount Read, a stand of pines has been found that are estimated to be over 3000 years old.

The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park holds a special place in the historical, political and environmental hearts of the Tasmanian people. This section of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area includes the Franklin, Olga and Gordon Rivers. Much of the park is untamed and rugged; however, a Gordon River Cruise allows you to appreciate the heritage and wild beauty of the area without sacrificing comfort.

Tasmania has many places that conceal some of the darker aspects of our early settlement. One such place is Sarah Island which is the setting for one of Australia’s most famous novels “For the Term of his Natural Life.” Located in the south-west corner of Macquarie Harbour, smatterings of brick ruins remain as a reminder that this was once a bustling, productive and often brutal penal colony between 1822 and 1833. At its height, there were about 500 people living there.